Revd. Chris Humble
I commend to you the video relating to the upcoming meetings designed to get you thinking about the future shapes and patterns within the Circuit. The process, begun in 2024, entitled the “Listening Events” is now reaching a critical point and some decisions will need to be made. The Circuit Leadership Team having listened to you are now offering various options by way of how we might proceed. Over recent years we have seen the number of ministerial staff reduce within the Circuit and as some colleagues have left without replacements made, so the existing staff have taken on extra responsibilities. This will happen again shortly. We will give thanks to Patrick as he sits down (please note there will be a Circuit Service at Ainsdale on Sunday 26th July at 4pm to express appreciation to Patrick for his years among us) and Ernie Grimshaw and myself look set to take on the three churches Patrick currently has pastoral charge of, unless something miraculous happens in the last stages of the stationing processes before the Methodist Conference next month (late June).
The current stage of the process is focusing on governance, in regard to the number of managing trustee bodies within the Circuit, but there are other issues to be addressed coming over the horizon. There are challenges in regard to worship patterns. We have not admitted a new local preacher for some years and need new people to take up the reins of this ministry as well as worship leading. If you feel God might be calling you to either of these ministries please speak to me or your own minister.
We also recently welcomed PJ Grayson among us as the new Circuit Children & Families Worker. You will surely see PJ at a church near you in coming weeks as he meets various groups and key people in the churches. He will be commissioned at the Circuit Service on Sunday 31 May at 11am at PPW.
Please do continue to pray for the staff and circuit stewards as we wrestle with the challenges we are facing.
Despite the challenges we face the focus of readings from the Book of Acts during the Easter season reminds us of the small beginnings in the life of the early church, where despite difficulties and challenges
My prayer is that God will continue to lead us and guide us as we move forward into the next chapter of the story.
God bless,
Chris